2021 a Year in Review
A look back at 2021 and what a year it has been. It still shares some ups and downs like years prior, but what there is to learn from and take with us to it better in the next. From the techniques I've learned, new clients to paint for, watching students progress forward, expanding my teaching portfolio, and switch gears in the business of being an artist. There is a lot to cover and not everything I can compile into a single 10min read. But what I would like to offer is the lessons I've learned so I can pass them on to you all in the hopes you can avoid these obstacles in your own painting journey. Thanks again for being with me throughout 2021!
This year saw me push in the direction of how I can illustrate light. I've always loved OSL, from the first time I lay eyes on Victoria Halley's witch hunter holding a burning torch. The flames illuminated the stone walls, casting shadows on the Witch Hunter himself with that warm yellow glow. It was the first time I ever saw a miniature painting that felt like pure magic. All I wanted was to produce pieces that gave me that feeling of magic that I experienced with her models. Back to my own works, it was about expanding that idea and moving beyond the light source from an "object" and being something bigger, more distant, or out of frame. The idea that even our zenith lighting we are accustomed to painting is essentially our own OSL, as the sun or whatever is illuminating our subject is the source. Opening my mind to that idea let me be a lot freer with my choices.
It was the first time I ever saw a miniature painting that felt like pure magic.
Colour really played a part and has a direct relationship with light as stated above. Discovering the 4 pillars of a painting and embracing the importance that colour really drives the feeling of the painting stage forward. Changing gears I switched my process and put creating a colour palette at the forefront. Not always choosing colours as a reactionary, but being proactive. This means that I consider all the colours being used in the works, bringing them out on the palette to see them close or side by side. Make sure they work/talk well with one another. Essentially putting the colour first, and also coming up with creative solutions with the colours I have down rather than reaching for more colours on the rack. Mixing new colours, creating tints, shades, and new hues that harmonize better is just a more pleasant process for me and keeps me in the zone and more focused on my work. Some of the best creative solutions really come from constraints and a limited resource pool. This forces us to think of new and innovative connections of ideas that don't always show themselves initially or haven't been explored yet, leading to something new and wonderful. It's not to say I haven't reached for a brand new colour in the process, but at least I've exhausted my options currently there; and or I still allow room to be open to new spontaneous ideas that come through.
With the more theoretical aspect covered, the physical techniques I've expanded can be given to my studies this past year with Richard Grey. Of course, I teach painting, but I'm honestly first and foremost a student. That will always be a core belief in myself and no matter where my artistic journey takes me even if I'm hailed a master one day; I'll always view myself as a student. The brushwork and taking finer points in his position of layering and texture have given me a stronger foundation in my works. Both of how I look at various materials, as well as the process in which I love to paint. From straight copying his tutorials to get a grasp of his process, to then diving in and adding a piece of myself into it is such a rewarding feeling when it all comes together. I've also had other teachers throughout this year with notable mentions from Tamer - The Meth of Cooking, all my mates at The Painting Lodge, my local crew at Paint Club. Every conversation about painting, you're feedback, advice and comments build me as a painter. You all have been an honest mirror for me to look at in reflection and reveal things my own eyes don't catch with honesty. Much love and thank you!
Besides my own improvement, I really have to be thankful for my clients. Because what's the use of all these new things I'm learning if I don't get to try and use them on something meaningful? Here's some truth behind many commissions.
I go into many projects with a state of never having executed that effect prior or not knowing how I’ll achieve it yet.
I know it sounds scary, and hell why would I pitch that idea to the client in the first place? Well, it forces me to learn and find solutions to the problem that's why. You see if one of your goals or focus is to create original pieces whether it's colour schemes, model conversions, effects, weathering, etc. You have to be comfortable working in a space of discovery. If you only paint what is familiar to you and things you only know how to do without thinking, that would be playing it safe and chances are people have already seen that. Now you might be thinking that I should shoot for something way beyond my current reach? Well, you have to think for some reason here too. Let's refine that and say I push towards the next step. The next step up doesn't have to be huge, they can be small and that's ok. It's just a fact that it's a step upwards in the right direction. Combining that with the internal game I have with myself that I'm always aiming to beat my last work. I don't know if my clients know this from me, but it's what I pride myself in that I give everything to each painting and I'm always looking to beat the previous one!
Teaching this year has certainly been a joy and my biggest thank you goes out to all my students and new members of the Pro Palette. It's been a pleasure that all my students have allowed me the time to pass my knowledge of miniature painting to you. Your feedback and following your own personal progressions are inspiring and a pleasure to witness. Seeing your own journeys unfold with where you are taking these new skills to your own miniatures along with your own creative choices is awesome. Even yourselves being a mirror to my own understanding of the subject honestly helps me constantly refine my delivery of theory and techniques. Just as much as I enjoy the magical moments a miniature can bring to viewers, it's seeing people progress and have their own moments of clarity in their works which is wonderful. Through time, practice, feedback, and corrections; their miniatures start to become more alive and more of themselves are being shown in their works.
Some of the best creative solutions really come from constraints and a limited resource pool.
Last but not least is the launch of my very own website bbminiatures.com and with that the Pro Palette. A big shout out to my initial members of the Pro Palette for signing up with several of you being a yearly sub! That's huge and your trust in my work and commitment to delivering the very best tutorials I can create to better help you on your own miniature journey is an honour. Where I can't get to everyone on an individual needs in tutoring, this platform will allow many others a chance to watch, learn and improve. Tie that to my new discord server for Pro Palette members, and we have ourselves a tightly focused group of individuals that are striving for a common goal. From creating a 2 format approach to video learning through the Foundations and Model Series. I'm happy to announce coming in 2022, I'll be adding a 3rd series to the website and that is on Pro Calls. Each month I'll be hosting a group call on the discord and I will be running a whiteboard session and slides covering theory topics such as colour, composition, creative process, artist mindset and things that revolve around our paintings. Members will be encouraged to engage and participate in open learning and each call will be recorded and archived for you to review or watch if you couldn't make the live stream. Another angle of approach for everyone to learn and help you become a more holistic painter.
Well, that's my year of 2021 in a nutshell. I hope you had a wonderful year behind the brush, and looking forward to new models, projects, and learning goals in 2022! If you haven't already subscribed to become a member of the Pro Palette, please have a 1 month on me as a thank you for being a reader of the Miniature Palette.
Use the code: THANKYOU2022 for $19 off your membership purchase of either Monthly or Yearly.
Also leaving a final note to all that have subscribed to the Miniature Palette is that I'm moving this list to Squarespace and along with that will be a new return address brennan@bbminiatures.com. So future issues will not be coming from Mailchimp as I need to condense my production tools for my own ease and sanity of everything I need to do to keep this ship afloat!
Much love and Happy New Year to you all.